DoDMERB Disqualification (ADD)

[Manuel06]

I've recently obtained a 3-year Army ROTC scholarship. However, I've received a DQ from DoDMERB for an Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) diagnosis I received 12 years ago. The main reason I feel this might permanently disqualify me would be my previous use of a 504 Plan accommodating extra time on state finals since the diagnosis, which followed me throughout high school. However, the accommodations don't interfere with classes themselves so I was never in a SPED class. Along with the fact I haven't shown symptoms for ADD for years now. Is there anything else I can do to provide more information to them? I intend on giving them all the information requested, but I am unsure if this is the end of my ROTC scholarship.

 

[GoCubbies]

I've recently obtained a 3-year Army ROTC scholarship. However, I've received a DQ from DoDMERB for an Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) diagnosis I received 12 years ago. The main reason I feel this might permanently disqualify me would be my previous use of a 504 Plan accommodating extra time on state finals since the diagnosis, which followed me throughout high school. However, the accommodations don't interfere with classes themselves so I was never in a SPED class. Along with the fact I haven't shown symptoms for ADD for years now. Is there anything else I can do to provide more information to them? I intend on giving them all the information requested, but I am unsure if this is the end of my ROTC scholarship.

I would check your email every day for the message that says the information or additional medical records that AROTC wants for waiver consideration.

In general, AROTC will want to know that you've been off a 504 plan/accommodations/IEP and medication for at least 12 months without a decrement in academic performance. Basically, if you've had a 504 plan through HS but NOT once you enrolled in college, then you'll have to provide your transcripts through your freshman year. If you haven't had any 504 plan through your freshman year of college, then that will satisfy the requirement for being off of them for 12 months (or 2 academic semesters).

AROTC may also want you to get a memo from a college official stating that you don't have an accommodations/504 plan on file at the school.

Any idea why you continued to be on a 504 plan through HS when you haven't had ADD symptoms "for years now"?

 

[Capt MJ]

You didn’t mention whether you took SAT/ACT exams using accommodations. I do not believe SAs or ROTC programs will consider those scores. Can’t find the reference right now, but I think I have seen it at an official source.

Best wishes for success - work the process and hang in there.

 

[Manuel06]

I would check your email every day for the message that says the information or additional medical records that AROTC wants for waiver consideration.

In general, AROTC will want to know that you've been off a 504 plan/accommodations/IEP and medication for at least 12 months without a decrement in academic performance. Basically, if you've had a 504 plan through HS but NOT once you enrolled in college, then you'll have to provide your transcripts through your freshman year. If you haven't had any 504 plan through your freshman year of college, then that will satisfy the requirement for being off of them for 12 months (or 2 academic semesters).

AROTC may also want you to get a memo from a college official stating that you don't have an accommodations/504 plan on file at the school.

Any idea why you continued to be on a 504 plan through HS when you haven't had ADD symptoms "for years now"?

I've started my first semester of college this June, so it hasn't been a full year yet, but had finished the semester with a 3.9 GPA with none of the accommodations. Would I have to wait a year until I can reapply for the scholarship? As for the continued 504 plan throughout high school, my parents had renewed it every year without scheduling a reevaluation.

 

[HANKER]

interesting to read that it is 12 months off accomodations, in some places i've read 15 months (maybe that was applying to USAFA)?

 

[GoCubbies]

interesting to read that it is 12 months off accomodations, in some places i've read 15 months (maybe that was applying to USAFA)?

Yes, some are more than 12 months.

For AROTC, it is 12 months off meds and accommodations

 

[GoCubbies]

I've started my first semester of college this June, so it hasn't been a full year yet, but had finished the semester with a 3.9 GPA with none of the accommodations. Would I have to wait a year until I can reapply for the scholarship? As for the continued 504 plan throughout high school, my parents had renewed it every year without scheduling a reevaluation.

If AROTC medical reviewers think you didn’t have a 504 plan or IEP during senior year HS, then they would probable grant a waiver now.

If AROTC medical reviewers see you had accommodations all through HS, then will wait until after 2 semesters or a year of college off accommodations before deciding on a waiver.

Your scholarship would just be put on hold as you cannot sign a contract until a waiver comes through.

How were you able to start college in June? Are you a freshman which means the scholarship you got would start in fall 2025?

 

[Manuel06]

If AROTC medical reviewers think you didn’t have a 504 plan or IEP during senior year HS, then they would probable grant a waiver now.

If AROTC medical reviewers see you had accommodations all through HS, then will wait until after 2 semesters or a year of college off accommodations before deciding on a waiver.

Your scholarship would just be put on hold as you cannot sign a contract until a waiver comes through.

How were you able to start college in June? Are you a freshman which means the scholarship you got would start in fall 2025?

I started in the summer term; it was a condensed semester, it was only 6 weeks but I took 3 classes. I applied for the 4-year scholarship my senior year of HS, which I was unable to get, but the Enrollment/Scholarship Officer asked me if it was okay if he automatically enrolled me in the 3-year scholarship. When I got the scholarship letter in the mail a month ago, it said there would be an "observation year" until I received any money, which was unrelated to the 504 plan remedial.

 

[GoCubbies]

I started in the summer term; it was a condensed semester, it was only 6 weeks but I took 3 classes. I applied for the 4-year scholarship my senior year of HS, which I was unable to get, but the Enrollment/Scholarship Officer asked me if it was okay if he automatically enrolled me in the 3-year scholarship. When I got the scholarship letter in the mail a month ago, it said there would be an "observation year" until I received any money, which was unrelated to the 504 plan remedial.

Ok, so you have some time to get the waiver to be able to contract and activate the scholarship.

At this point, it’s just a waiting game.

Keep an eye on your emails. AROTC will go through DoDMERB to get what they need from you.

 

[Capt MJ]

And welcome new member if < 1 day!

 

[HANKER]

Also, by the way - this is from the USAFA website. I didn't want to confuse anyone with my earlier 15 month statement but did want to share where it came from. "A history of learning disorders such as attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD) may only be considered for waiver if an applicant has demonstrated successful academic performance off stimulant medication or other treatment for at least 15 months and if no educational accommodations have been required." To me, that's really talking about the meds/treatment over 15 months, the statement doesn't say a time period about accommodations. Agreed? Or am I misreading it and maybe the accommodations are 12 months? Anyway, didn't mean to hijack this thread but did want to clarify.

 

[Manuel06]

You didn’t mention whether you took SAT/ACT exams using accommodations. I do not believe SAs or ROTC programs will consider those scores. Can’t find the reference right now, but I think I have seen it at an official source.

Best wishes for success - work the process and hang in there.

Would that be an immediate disqualifier? I've already recieved the scholarship and it wouldn't activate until Fall of next year. Would I just have to show academic success without accommodations for a while or would the scholarship be revoked completely? (Sorry for the delayed response)

 

[Capt MJ]

Would that be an immediate disqualifier? I've already recieved the scholarship and it wouldn't activate until Fall of next year. Would I just have to show academic success without accommodations for a while or would the scholarship be revoked completely? (Sorry for the delayed response)

If you haven’t yet gone to the DoDMERB website and read everything on the landing page and every left-side menu item, including Contacts, that is primary source material to get you started on understanding the process. That menu includes the link for the military medical accession standard. Page 50.

Work the process, gather records, and hope a waiver is requested if you are indeed DQed. And yes, some of the waivers depend on if you have “aged out” of a waiting period for things like surgical recovery, certain medications, accommodations, etc. Outstanding performance without using accommodations is critical.

DoD Website Consent

I won’t definitively answer your question because I am not an official source, and you have to go through the process.

Congratulations on the scholarship; I hope it all works out for you.

 

[Manuel06]

If you haven’t yet gone to the DoDMERB website and read everything on the landing page and every left-side menu item, including Contacts, that is primary source material to get you started on understanding the process. That menu includes the link for the military medical accession standard. Page 50.

Work the process, gather records, and hope a waiver is requested if you are indeed DQed. And yes, some of the waivers depend on if you have “aged out” of a waiting period for things like surgical recovery, certain medications, accommodations, etc. Outstanding performance without using accommodations is critical.

DoD Website Consent

I won’t definitively answer your question because I am not an official source, and you have to go through the process.

Congratulations on the scholarship; I hope it all works out for you.

I've been requesting letters from some of my middle school and high school teachers explaining how the accommodations never interfered with any in-class tests and assignments, along with a letter stating I have no accommodations in my college. Would these documents help my chances at a waiver?

 

[Capt MJ]

I've been requesting letters from some of my middle school and high school teachers explaining how the accommodations never interfered with any in-class tests and assignments, along with a letter stating I have no accommodations in my college. Would these documents help my chances at a waiver?

I regret I am not qualified to have an informed opinion on that. I would certainly think documenting you have no accommodations in college, along with excellent grades, would be useful. But that’s speculation on my part.

 

[Manuel06]

I regret I am not qualified to have an informed opinion on that. I would certainly think documenting you have no accommodations in college, along with excellent grades, would be useful. But that’s speculation on my part.

No worries, thank you for your assistance!

 

[justdoit19]

As CaptMJ has stated, no one here can make any definitive statements about your particular case. Know that each candidate is looked at wholly. So your case is unique to you. Put forth your BEST application, with confidence, and follow through with requested information.

And as is advised for ALL candidates, make sure you have solid alternate plans.

Good luck!!

 

[GoCubbies]

I've been requesting letters from some of my middle school and high school teachers explaining how the accommodations never interfered with any in-class tests and assignments, along with a letter stating I have no accommodations in my college. Would these documents help my chances at a waiver?

It really doesn’t matter if the accommodations have never interfered with in-class stuff or not.

It’s just that you cannot have accommodations when you’re trying to plot points on your map for land nav. You cannot have accommodations when you’re doing exams at CST because the schedule is tight and the next requirement in an hour so someone who needs 50% for time on an exam isn’t going to be on the bus to head to the obstacle course.

Letters from HS and grade are not going to help at this point. What you’re going to need to provide is something from a college official stating you don’t have accommodations and haven’t needed them since end of summer 2024. What wouldn’t hurt is your psychologist saying that accommodations are no longer indicated in your case.

 

[GoCubbies]

Would that be an immediate disqualifier? I've already recieved the scholarship and it wouldn't activate until Fall of next year. Would I just have to show academic success without accommodations for a while or would the scholarship be revoked completely? (Sorry for the delayed response)

Your scholarship won’t be revoked immediately.

You have some time to activate your scholarship since it’s a 3-year. For you, I believe it would be before the end of the fall term 2025 to activate it and be retroactive for that semester. While your tuition would be paid retroactively, know that the same will not happen to your stipend. Stipends cannot be paid retroactively.

If the fall semester starts and your scholarship hasn’t started yet, then you may have to front the tuition. Maybe your ROO can come up with a drug deal with the school’s bursar (ie “The money is coming. I promise.” so you don’t have to front the money. I would be worried with this approach because of what can happen if the waiver doesn’t come thru.

In your case, I would shoot for getting a waiver done by August 2025 so that the fall semester can be paid up front and you can get your monthly stipend/beer money as soon as classes start.

 

[Manuel06]

It really doesn’t matter if the accommodations have never interfered with in-class stuff or not.

It’s just that you cannot have accommodations when you’re trying to plot points on your map for land nav. You cannot have accommodations when you’re doing exams at CST because the schedule is tight and the next requirement in an hour so someone who needs 50% for time on an exam isn’t going to be on the bus to head to the obstacle course.

Letters from HS and grade are not going to help at this point. What you’re going to need to provide is something from a college official stating you don’t have accommodations and haven’t needed them since end of summer 2024. What wouldn’t hurt is your psychologist saying that accommodations are no longer indicated in your case.

I received a letter from the Disability Resource Office at my university explaining that I have no accommodations in place. However, since I requested this letter in August, it says that I have not had accommodations since August. I got letters from all my professors during the summer and all of them state they never received any information from the Disability Resource Department when I was in their class so hopefully Waiver Authority may consider these letters.